New look at texts, phone data leads to murder charge in disappearance of ‘The People’s Court’ co-participant

A fresh look at cellphone data and text messages led to the arrest of a Florida man accused of murdering his ex-fiancée within hours of taping an episode for “The People’s Court” in 2011, court documents unsealed Tuesday revealed.

Dale Smith Jr., a 55-year-old Orlando resident, was taken into custody Oct. 14 and charged with second-degree murder in the death of Michelle Parker, whose body has never been found, police said.

Smith was 40 and Parker 33 when she was last seen alive on Nov. 17, 2011, the day the episode was taped. The two shared custody of twins at the time.

That afternoon, at about 2 p.m., Parker and Smith appeared for a taping of “The People’s Court” to settle a dispute over a $5,000 engagement ring she allegedly threw off a balcony. The judge ruled “that both parties were responsible for the ring and ordered they split the $5,000.00 damage,” according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Smith told investigators that, after the taping of the show, Parker dropped the children off at his home and left about 10 minutes later, police said.

But surveillance cameras appeared to show that “the victim’s Hummer was at the suspect’s residence for…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health